| Jian | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Single-handedjian and scabbard of the 18th–19th century | |||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 劍 | ||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 剑 | ||||||||||||
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Thejian (Mandarin Chinese:[tɕjɛ̂n],Chinese:劍,English approximation:/dʒjɛn/jyehn,Cantonese:[kim˧]) is a double-edged straightsword used during the last 2,500 years in China. The first Chinese sources that mention thejian date to the 7th century BCE, during theSpring and Autumn period,[1] one of the earliest specimens being theSword of Goujian. Historical one-handed versions have blades varying from 45 to 80 centimeters (18 to 31 inches) in length. The weight of an average sword of 70-centimetre (28-inch) blade-length would be approximately 700 to 900 grams (1.5 to 2 pounds).[2] There are also larger two-handed versions used for training by many styles ofChinese martial arts.
Professionaljian practitioners are referred to asjianke (Chinese:劍客;pinyin:jiànkè;lit. 'sword guests' or "swordsmen"; a term dating from theHan dynasty).[3]
In Chinese folklore, thejian is known as "The Gentleman of Weapons" and is considered one of the four major weapons, along with thegun (staff),qiang (spear), and thedao (sabre). These swords are also sometimes referred to astaijijian or "tai chi swords", reflecting their current use as training weapons for tai chi practitioners, though there were no historical jian types created specifically for tai chi.[4]
A guard orhilt protects the hand from an opposing blade. Guard shapes varied, but often had short wings or lobes pointing either forward or backward, the latter sometimes having an "ace of spades" appearance. Earlyjian often had very small, simple guards. From theSong andMing periods onward, guards could featurezoomorphic shapes, or have crossbars and quillons. A minority ofjian featured the disc-shaped guards associated withdao.
The jian's hilt can accommodate the grip of both hands or one hand plus two or three fingers of the other hand. Two-handedjiàn of up to 1.6 meters (63 inches) in length, known asshuangshou jian, existed but were not as common as the one-handed version. The longer two-handed handle could be used as a lever to lock an opponent's arm if necessary. Grips are usually of fluted wood or covered inrayskin, with a minority being wrapped with cord.
The end of the handle was finished with apommel for balance, to prevent the handle from sliding through the hand should the hand's grip be loosened, and for striking or trapping the opponent as opportunity required—such as in "withdrawing" techniques. The pommel was historicallypeened onto thetang of the blade, thereby holding together as one solid unit the blade, guard, handle, and pommel. Mostjian of the last century or so are assembled with a threaded tang onto which the pommel or pommel-nut is screwed.
Sometimes atassel is attached to the hilt. During the Ming Dynasty these were usually passed through anopenwork pommel, and in theQing through a hole in the grip itself; modern swords usually attach the tassel to the end of the pommel. Historically these were likely used aslanyards, allowing the wielder to retain the sword in combat. There are some sword forms which utilize the tassel as an integral part of their swordsmanship style (sometimes offensively), while other schools dispense with sword tassels entirely. The movement of the tassel may have served to distract opponents, and some schools further claim that metal wires or thin silk cords were once worked into the tassels for impairing vision and causing bleeding when swept across the face.[citation needed] The tassel's use now is primarily decorative.[5][6]
The blade itself is customarily divided into three sections for leverage in different offensive and defensive techniques. The tip of the blade is thejiànfeng, meant for stabbing, slashing, and quick percussive cuts. Thejiànfeng typically curves smoothly to a point, though in the Ming period sharply angled points were common. Some antiques have rounded points, though these are likely the result of wear. The middle section is thezhongren or middle edge, and is used for a variety of offensive and defensive actions: cleaving cuts, draw cuts, and deflections. The section of blade closest to the guard is called thejiàngen or root, and is mainly used for defensive actions; on some late period jian, the base of the blade was made into aricasso. These sections are not necessarily of the same length, with thejiànfeng being only three or four inches long.[7][8]
Jian blades generally feature subtle profile taper (decreasing width), but often have considerable distal taper (decreasing thickness), with blade thickness near the tip being only half the thickness of the root's base. Jiàn may also feature differential sharpening, where the blade is made progressively sharper towards the tip, usually corresponding to the three sections of the blade. The cross-section of the blade is typically lenticular (eye-shaped) or a flattened diamond, with a visible central ridge; ancient bronze jian sometimes have a hexagonal cross-section.
Jian were originally made frombronze, thensteel as metal technology advanced. There are some, perhapsceremonial, jian which are carved from a single solid piece ofjade.
Traditional jian blades are usually ofsanmei (three plate) construction, which involved sandwiching a core of hard steel between two plates of softer steel. The central plate protrudes slightly from its surrounding pieces, allowing for a sharp edge, while the softer spine protects the brittle core. Some blades hadwumei or five plate construction, with two more soft plates being used at the central ridge.[9] Bronze jian were often made in a somewhat similar manner: in this case an alloy with a high copper content would be used to make a resilient core and spine, while the edge would be made from a high-tin-content alloy for sharpness and welded onto the rest of the blade.
The sword smiths of China are often credited with theforging technologies that traveled to Vietnam, Japan and Korea to allow sword smiths there to create such weapons as thekatana. These technologies include folding, inserted alloys, anddifferential hardening of the edge.[10][11] While the Japanese would be more influenced by the Chinesedāo (single-edged swords of various forms), the early Japanese swords known asken are often based on jian. The Korean version of the jian is known as thegeom orgum, and these swords often preserve features found in Ming-era jian, such as openwork pommels and sharply angled tips.
In martial art schools wooden swords are used for training, so most martial arts students' first experience with a jian in modern times is with one of those weapons. Before schools were a formal way of passing on sword knowledge, students may have begun with a simple wooden stick when training with their teacher.[12] In some religiousTaoist sects, those wooden practice swords have come to have anesoteric ritual purpose. Some claim that these wooden swordsmetaphorically represent the discipline of an accomplished student.
Contemporary jian are oftenforged (shaped with heat and hammer) and assembled by mostly traditional methods for training of practitioners of Chinese martial arts around the world. These jian vary greatly in quality and historical accuracy.
Contemporary jian are also sometimesforgeries (artificially aged and misrepresented as antiques) for sale to tourists and collectors who cannot distinguish them from true antiques.
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Originally similar to bronze double-edged daggers in varying lengths, jian reached modern lengths by roughly 500 BC. Though there is significant variation in length, balance, and weight of the jian from differentperiods, within any given period the general purpose of the jian is to be a multipurpose cut and thrust weapon capable of stabbing as well as making both precise cuts and slashes, as opposed to specializing in one form of use. Although the many forms and schools of swordsmanship with the jian vary, the general purpose and use is still not lost.
During theQin andHan dynasties, the first two dynasties which united China, jian from the by then defunct Chu dynasty were very highly regarded.Chu became particularly famous for its swords after conquering the state ofYue, who had previously been famous for their swords, and who credited their sword techniques to a southern woman of unknown ancestry referred to asYuenü.
Among theTerracotta warriors in the tomb ofQin Shi Huang, figures representing officers were originally armed with jian made from an alloy of copper, tin, and other elements including nickel, magnesium, and cobalt. Several double-edged bronze swords have been recovered by modern archaeologists, but most were stolen centuries ago along with thepolearms andbows of the enlisted men.[13]
Historicaljian wielders would engage in test cutting calledshizhan, practicing their skills on targets known ascaoren, or "grass men". Such targets were made from bamboo, rice straw, or saplings. Though similar to the Japanese art oftameshigiri,shizhan was never formalized to the extent that the latter art was.[14]
Today many Chinese martial arts such astai chi and their martial artists still train extensively withjian, andexpertise in its techniques is said by many of them to be the highest physical expression of their kung fu. Famousjian forms includeSancai Jian (三才劍),Kunwu Jian (崑吾劍),Wudang Xuanmen Jian (武當玄門劍), andtaijijian (太極劍). Mostjian today are flexible tai chi or wushujian used mainly for ceremonial or performance purposes and not for actual combat. These swords have extremely thin blades or a high degree of flexibility compared to historical battlefield qualityjian, properties intended to add auditory and visual appeal to a wushu performance. These same properties render them unsuitable for historically accurate combat.
Since 2008, officers in theChinese navy are issued with ceremonial swords resembling the traditionaljian.[15] Each sword has the owner's name engraved on the blade after graduation from themilitary academy.[16]
At present, thetaijijian forms are normally practiced for exercise like tai chi. The trainings are less on the physical form of the weapon and more on gaining greater balance and coordination through performing the slow movements. Therefore, the tai chi swords for everyday exercises are normally different from the swords mentioned above. Generally speaking, they are not dangerous, round edged without sharp blades, and retractable for convenience.
There are severalTaoist immortals who are associated with thejian. One example isLü Dongbin. ThebodhisattvaMañjuśrī (Ch:文殊Wénshū) is often depicted holding ajian, which is then referred to as the "sword of wisdom".
Jian frequently appear inwuxia fiction and films. The swords or the techniques used to wield them may be effectively or explicitly supernatural,[18] and the quest for such swords or techniques may be a major plot element.
